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Vaastu
is the science of direction that combines all the five elements
of nature and balance them with the man and the material. Vaastu
Shastra is creating a congenial settings or a place to live or work,
in most scientific way taking advantages of the benefits bestowed
by the five elements called "Paanchbhootas" of the nature
thereby paving the way for enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and
happiness in an enlightened environment.
Our
sages and seers have knew the secrets of using all the five elements
of this universe and their special characteristics and influences
such as the magnetic field, gravitational effect etc. of Earth,
the galaxy in the sky, the directions and velocity of the winds,
light and heat of the SUN including the effects of its Ultra-Violet
and Infra-Red rays, the volume and intensity of rainfall etc. for
the advantage of the mankind in suitably planning and constructing
buildings for dwelling, prayer, entertainment , education , working
, production and other purposes . They evolved scientific methods
and systems and confined them over the years as 'VAASTU SHASTRA'.
Our sages SEARCHED it; we are only RESEARCHING it and building the
concepts.
Man is the subject, object and the cause of architecture. He perceives
and conceives architecture in relation to his experience of himself
with the surrounding world. Through art of design, he alters and
moulds the elements of natural environment. The world comprises
of five basic elements, also known as the Paanchbhootas. They are
Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Space. Out of the nine planets, our
planet has life because of the presence of these five elements.
Earth and Water have limited and localized availability for the
human habitat and growth. They form apparent and fundamental choice
makers in the location and the physical form of architecture and
habitat. Sun, Air and Space are universally available and can be
moulded to human needs by the act of design. In order to understand
the act of design with these five elements, we shall have to take
each one separately to appreciate their meaning, role, and workability
in architecture.
(1)
EARTH (Bhumi): -
Earth, the third planet in order from the sun, is a big magnet with
North and South poles as centers of attractions. Its magnetic field
and gravitational force has telling effects on everything on the
Earth, living and non-living. It is tilted by about 23 ½
degrees at the meridian. It comprises of the land structure, landform,
landscape, flora and fauna. It also establishes availability of
local construction materials and their workability. In India, we
worship our Bhumi and give her a place of our mother.
(2)
WATER (Jal): -
This is represented by rain, river, sea and is in the form of liquid,
solid (ice) and gas (steam, cloud). It forms part of every plant
and animal. Our blood is nothing but water with hemoglobin and oxygen.
The habitat and physical life are where water is present. This is
true for all life forms and eco-cultures. The type, form and pattern
of life also greatly depend on relationship of earth and water.
If we see our history, all the cultures had developed on the bank
of any water bodies, so this shows the influence of the water on
our life, since ages.
(3)
AIR (Vaayu): -
As a life-supporting element, air is very powerful life source.
Pure air with oxygen is good for brain and blood. Atmosphere of
earth which is about 400 kms. , In depth, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon-di-oxide,
Helium, other gases, dust particles, humidity and vapour in certain
proportions. Human physical comfort values are directly and sensitively
dependent on correct humidity, airflow, and temperature of air,
air pressure, air composition and its content. In this aspect, air
deals with the entire body surface through skin, blood system -
through respiration. Air also represents the movement.
(4)
FIRE (Sun): -
It represents light and heat without which the life will extinct.
All the days and nights, seasons, energy, enthusiasm, passion, vigour
is because of light and heat only. Sun is a source of mental energy
too. Best minds evolve in a natural process where the sun was temperate.
Not very hot, not very cold, just the right temperature of 24 degrees.
The different zones with the variety of climate have distinctive
culture and architecture. Sun has played an important role in development
of visual qualities of architecture in terms of textures, colors
and above all the expressions of vitality.
(5)
SPACE (Aakash): -
All the above elements are skillfully engineers towards the creation
of physically comfortable, emotionally pleasant, intellectually
determinant, totally vibrant and blissfully satisfying spaces for
human shelter and habitat. It is unending regions remote from the
earth, in which not only our solar system but the entire galaxy
exists. Its effective forces are light, heat, gravitational force
and waves, magnetic field and others.
The
ideal habitats, cultures, architecture and life have naturally shown
exhilarence where all the five elements, to support life, are abundantly
available and are suitable to human growth and evolution. This is
an invisible and constant relation between these elements outside
and those within an individual and in his living and working places.
Thus, the man can improve his conditions by properly designing his
buildings by understanding the effectiveness of these |